Method of producing composite motion pictures



Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

- UNITED STATES 1,575,478 PATENT OFFICE.

FERDINAND EARLE, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF PRODUCING COMPOSITE MOTION PICTURES.

Application filed June 3, 1925. Serial No. 34,558.

a native citizen of the United States, and

resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Producing Composite Motion Pictures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to photographing objects before large backgrounds having scenic effects delineated thereon, and is especially useful in motion picture production. The present invention appertains more particularly to the art of picture composition, whereby a composite picture may be created by photographing real objects before an artificial background, the latter being delineated upon a surface such as canvas or the like so as to produce suitable scenic, atmospheric, or imaginary effects.

'Heretofore, the static background has been delineated by photographing, drawing, or painting the desired components upon a suitable flat surface to produce graduated lights and shades forthe proper effect. It has been necessary to comparatively accentuate the high lights and dark shades by intensifying the contrasts of the negative by resort to full development, thereby tending to harshness. As the intensity of illumination required for motion picture is relatively great, high candle to illuminate the objects have been necessary. In order to avoid harmful reflections and halations, all glossy or shiny surfaces on the background have been painstakingly avoided. However, the effect of the depth and the best gradation of shades on ,a back drop are obtained by the use of backdrops having highly glossy surfaces,

photography power lights which greatly increase the intensity of the dark colors.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a method 'of creating pictures of the character described,'wherein objects maybe photographed before a background or backdro having a scene delineated upon a flat sur ace, the whole being shiny o1 glossy. To this end I illuminate such a background by the 'means of light screened from the camera and other objects or actors in front of the background and whose rays impin e upon the background at an unusually shallow angle. I

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the essentials for photographing action before a background in accordance with my method; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 3 designates a background, which may be a large drawing, a painting, an enlarge ment of a photograph, or any other delineation of such size that the action may take glace in front of it. It has a very smooth at and shiny surface such as a highly varnished surface, and in some instances I have found it desirable to increase the smoothness and glossiness by coating the surface with a film of heavy liquid oil, such as a parafline oil. An actor in the dark, or illumined by a separate system of shielded lights that donot shine into its glossy surface may pose in front of the background. and the whole photographed together. It is obvious that this is merely illustrative, as several actors may pose in front of the background. If desired fragmentary objects,

such as shrubbery, hangings, miniatures,

.the camera 6 by shields 7 The lamps 5 are placed in such positions that the rays therefrom impinge on the background at a very shallow angle so that rays to which the camera film is sensitive will not be directly reflected into the camera lens. The actor may light. A lamp for this purpose is indicated by 8. The illumination of the actor should be produced by sunlight or by a lam )rojecting rays upon the actor but masked f rom projecting its reflections from the background to the camera and at an angle such that there will be no direct reflection of light from the shields or lamps to the camera or from the background.

Due to the angle of illumination ofthe background, at least twice the amount of light is required for artistic purposes as now used for the backgrounds employed. The entire illumination of the background is similar to indirect lighting. Thus, the

be illuminated by suitable lamps or sunlight or screened or reflected sunglossy surface background which has a1 pictures which consists in posing objects or I 10 actors in front of a background comprising s been avoided because of the host of wa "di culties, evils, delays, limitations and .added costs caused by the reflection is compensated for in added beauty and perfec:

"tiolzlwef photography.

I atIclaim1s: I 1-. A process of photographing motion a glossy surface having objects delineated thereon, illuminating said surface by light at an extremely shallow angle, and photographing the composite scene.

-2 A process of photographing motion" pictures which consists inposmg objects or actors in front of a background comprising a glossy surface having objects delineated thereon, illuminating said objects or actors,

independently illuminating said surface by light atan extremely shallow angle, and

photographing the composite scene.

3. A. process of photographing motion pictures which consists in osing natural background into the camera lens, and photographing the composite scene. 4 4. process of photographing motion pictures, which consists in posing natural objects or actors in front of a large background comprising a glos surface havin objects delineated thereon, illuminating sai back-ground by sources of light disposed at an edge thereof so that the rays impinge on said surface at an acute an le, masking said sourcesof light from .the front, and photographing the composite scene. v

5. A vprocess of photographing motion pictures, which consists in osing natural objects or actors in front 0 a background comprising a glossy surface having objects delineated thereon, illuminating said background by sources of light disposed at the edges-thereof so that the rays impinge on said surface at acute -angles,.masking said sources of light from the camera, independently illuminating the natural objects by a source of light so placed that the rays therefrom cannot be directly reflected from said background to the camera lens, and photograp ling the composite scene.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of May, 1925.

FERDINAND EARLE. 

